Wild Chase Leads Police To Suspected Car Burglar

By  //  March 15, 2013

Elderly Woman Punched During Pursuit

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA –In a wild turn of affairs, police in Cocoa Beach chased down a suspected car burglar who tried to evade capture near the Cocoa Beach Pier on Wednesday.

Nicholas Dunn of Cape Canaveral, 23, was arrested by Cocoa Beach Police and charged with Burglary to a Structure, Burglary of a Conveyance, Tampering with a Witness, Battery on a Person over 65, Theft, Resisting an Officer without Violence and Possession of Prescription Drugs without a Prescription. (Image courtesy of Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)

Major Jay Harmon of the Cocoa Beach Police Department said at about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, officers were called to the parking lot of the Cocoa Beach Pier at 401 Meade Avenue to a report of a burglary in progress.

Witnesses told police seeing two men and a woman walking through the parking lot attempting to gain access to numerous vehicles parked on the property.

Officers arrived on scene and identified one of the suspects as Nicholas Patrick Dunn of Cape Canaveral, 23.

Harmon said Dunn had just been released from the Brevard County Jail earlier in the day where he was being held on charges stemming from a previous vehicle burglary arrest in Cocoa Beach on Feb. 4.

Dunn fled from officers and a foot pursuit began over several streets and through a pair of local hotels.

At one point, an elderly woman pointed out Dunn’s location to pursuing officers causing Dunn to flee from an area of concealment.

In the process of fleeing, Dunn attacked the witness and attempted to punch her.

Harmons said the witness was struck, but received only a minor injury.

Officers pursued Dunn into the lobby of the Best Western Hotel where Dunn attempted to hide in the hotel’s back offices.

He was found  Dunn and taken into custody without incident.

According to Harmon, evidence found on his person after his arrest was stolen property including controlled substances from numerous victims.

Dunn was charged with Burglary to a Structure, Burglary of a Conveyance, Tampering with a Witness, Battery on a person over 65, Theft, Resisting an Officer without Violence and Possession of Prescription Drugs without a Prescription.

He has been remanded to the Brevard County Jail on a $150,000 bond.